Music-sheet.



l WILLIAM BAYLEY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

MUSIC-SHEET.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

Application led January 12, 1914. Serial No. 811,624.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM BAYLEY, citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music-Sheets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the musical art and particularly to mechanical players employing perforated music sheets and more especially to means for gaging the lateral adjustment of the music sheet to insure the proper registration of the perforations of such music sheets with the tracker bar of the player.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as the means and mode of operation of such devices, whereby they will not only be cheapened in construction, but will be more efficient in use, easily and quickly adjusted and unlikely to get out of repair.

In the operation of mechanical players it is highly desirable that the perforations of the music sheet be accurately registered with the orifices of the tracker bar. The music sheets being usually constructed of paper are highly sensitive to atmospheric conditions, expanding and contracting with variations of humidity. Unless the perforations are very accurately registered with the orifices of the tracker bar, such perforations may be approximately in register at one side of the music sheet while at the opposite side thereof, the perforations may be so far lout of registry, due to the expansion or contraction of the sheet, that such perforations will encroach upon the next succeeding orifice of the tracker bar, thus producing off notes or discorde.

It has usually been the custom to register the perforations of the music sheet with the orifices of the tracker bar. To this end mechanical players are usually, if not always, so constructed that the music sheet and tracker bar are relatively adjustable in relation one with the other. However, the perforations are of comparatively small width and the orifices slightly wider than the perforations, whereby the sides of the orifice will be concealed beneath the paper sheet at the edges of the perforations. Thus the operator has no means of knowing when the perforation is centered eXactly over the orifice of the tracker bar. The present invention, by enabling the operator to observe the orifice of the tracker bar through the music sheet, provides means for centering or registering the perforations in the music sheet in relation with the walls between succeeding orices enabling the registering operation to be more accurately performed.

lith the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof and the mode of operation or their equivalents as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

kIn the drawings, Figure 1 is a detail plan view of the initial end of the music sheet showing the relation of the registering means with the tracker bar and the perforations of the sheet. Figs. 2, 3 and l are similar views illustrating modifications of the construction shown in Fig. l. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the difficulties to be overcome. Fig. 7 is a modification.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

In the drawings, 1 is a music sheet as commonly employed in player pianos or similar instruments, having therein a plurality of perforations 2 corresponding to the different notes of the musical composition to be played. This perforated music sheet is passed over a tracker bar 3 having therein a plurality of orifices il, one for each note to be played. It is necessary that the music sheet 1 be adjusted in relation with the tracker bar 3, that the perforations 2 will register with the corresponding orifices 4.

As will be noted in the drawings, the orifices 4 are slightly wider than the perforations 2, whereby the walls or partitions 5 between succeeding orifices are concealed beneath the music sheet. Not being able to see the side walls of the orices, the registration of the perforations therewith must be more or less guess work. It sometimes happens that the perforations instead of being centered upon the orifices a, coincide with one side of the orifice as shown at the right in Fig. 6. This will operate successfully so far as these particular perforations are concerned. However if the music sheet is inaccurately cut or has expanded, due to atmospheric conditions, the perforations 2 at the opposite side of the cured sheet may be thrown out of register with the corresponding orifices of the tracker bar as shown at the left in Fig. 6. Thus the perforations corresponding to one orifice will overlap the next succeeding orifice producing a double tone and discord. To overcome the difficulty in registering the perforations with the tracker bar orifice, there have been provided one or more initial apertures in the music sheet in advance of the note perforations and of greater width than that of the orifices 4. The apertures 6 are preferably though not necessarily of such width as to disclose several orifices 4 and the intermediate walls or partitions 5. v

Drawn upon the face of the music sheet 1 and intersecting the apertures 6 are a plurality of lines or marks 7 so located in relation with the note perforations 2 that if such lines or marks were projected longitudinally 0f the sheet, they would intersect the space between adjacent note perforations. By adjusting the music sheet laterally until the lines or marks 7 register with the walls or partitions 5 between succeeding orifices 4, the note perforations 2 are accurately centered in relation with the orifices 4 as the music sheet travels over the tracker bar. The relation of the marks or lines 7 with the note perforations 2 and the orifices 4 is clearly shown in the enlarged detail view Fig. 5. It is found in practice much easier to adjust the line or mark 7 to the thin partition or wall 5 than to adjust the perforation 2 in relation with the orifice 4 of greater width, when the walls or partitions of the latter are concealed from view. Inasmuch as the advance of the music sheet may not be readily arrested at a predetermined point with the aperture 6 over the orifices 4, as a matter of convenience a plurality of the apertures 6 are provided in the sheet and the marks or lines 7 are projected to intersect all of the aperture. 1t is obvious that a single aperture and single line will answer the purpose of the invention.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a modification of the construction before described in which there is employed a single aperture 8 over which there is cemented or otherwise sea film 9 of transparent material such as Celluloid, oiled or waxed paper, tracing linen or other suitable flexible material. Gage lines 10 corresponding to the lines or marks 7 before mentioned are drawn across the transparent film 9 in the same relation with the note perforations 2 and the partitions 5 as before described. These lines 10 are preferably dotted, thus enabling the operator to observe the partitions 5 between succeeding dots.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a further modification in which a limited section 11 of the music sheet 1 is rendered transparent by means of oil, wax or other material, in which case the gage lines 12 corresponding with the lines 7 and 10 before mentioned, extend across the transparent section.

1n Fig. 4 there is shown a further modification similar to the construction shown in Fig. 1 and embodying an overlay 13 having therein aperture 14 corresponding t0 the aperture 6 of the construction shown in Fig. 1. This overlay 13 is cemented to the music sheet 1 and covers an enlarged aperture indicated by dotted lines in said Fig. 4. The gage lines 15 are carried upon the overlay 13 and intersect the apertures 14. The use of the overlays 9 and 13 facilitates the adjustinent of the gage lines in relation With the note perforations 2. If at any time the sheet is found to register inaccurately, the overlays 9 or 13 may be loosened and readjusted to bring the perforations 2 into proper registry.

lVhile the registering means herein described is preferably located in the center of the sheet, it may be found desirable for use under peculiar conditions to provide a. plurality of registering devices located adjacent to the margins of the sheet as indicated at 16, Fig. 4.

It is obvious that perforations as shown at 17, Fig. 7 may be located in the music sheet in advance of and in line with the music perforations. Such perforations 17 may be of any suitable width, but are preferably equal in width to an orifice of the tracker bar or to mutliple of orifices. Lines or indicator points 18 provided upon the face of the tracker bar, can be observed through the orifice 17 and the tracker bar and music sheet may be relatively adjusted to bring corresponding marks or points 19 upon the sheet into registry with the marks 18 of the tracker bar. It is equally obvious that if the perforation or aperture 17 is equal in width to the orifice or to a mutliple of orifices, one edge of the aperture 17 may be registered with the partition 5 between succeeding orifices of the tracker bar as indicated at 20, Fig. 7.

Thus it will be seen that sundry variations may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention which consists in providing means whereby the tracker bar may be observed through the music sheet to enable corresponding points on the tracker bar and music sheet to be registered one with the other.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described, possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportion, detail construction or arrangement of parts, without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

an observation space inthe music While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to certain structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific details, but that the means and construction herein described comprise but one mode of putting the invention into eect, and the invention is therefore claimed broadly in any of its possible forms or modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim;

1. A perforated music sheet, tobe passed over a tracker bar having orifices therein, a gage mark on the music sheet in advance of the operating perforations to be registered with a partition between succeeding orifices of the tracker bar to insure the registration of the note perforations of the sheet with the tracker bar orifices.

2. A perforated music sheet to be passed over a tracker bar having orifices therein, said music sheet having. an observation space therein through which a plurality of orifices of the trackerbar may be observed, and gage marks on the music sheet intersecting the observation space to be registered with the partitions between succeeding tracker bar orifices.

3. A perforated music sheet to be passed over a tracker bar having orifices therein, sheet in advance of the note perforations, through which the orifices of the tracker bar may be observed, and gage marks carried by the music sheet and intersecting the observation space by which the note perforations of the sheet may be registered with the tracker bar orifices.

4, A perforated music sheet to be passed over a tracker bar having orifices therein, a gage mark so located on the music sheet that when the sheet is properly positioned in relation with the tracker bar said gage mark will be registered with a partition between adjoining tracker bar orifices to insure registration of the note perforations with the corresponding orifices.

5. A perforated music sheet, a tracker bar with the orifices of which the perforations of the music sheet are to be brought into registry by the relative adjustment of the sheet and bar, and gaging means in the sheet in advance of the note perforations adapted to register with a predetermined point upon Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the the tracker bar when the note perforations of the music sheet are in proper aiinement with the orifices of the tracker bar.

6. A perforated music sheet to be passed over a tracker bar having orifices therein, a transparent panel in said music sheet, a gage line intersecting the transparent panel and .located in medial alinement with the space between two note perforations, cooperating with adjoining ducts in the tracker bar, said gage line to be registered with the partition between adjoining orifices of the tracker bar for the purpose specified.

7 A perforated music sheet, to be passed over a tracker bar having orifices therein, said music sheet having one or more pen forations of greater width than the note perforations adapted to be looked through to observe definite gage points on the tracker bar,to insure the registration of the note perforations of the sheet with the tracker bar orifices.

8. A perforated music sheet to be passed over a tracker bar having orifices therein, provided with an observation space of greater width than a tracker bar orifice through which predetermined points upon the tracker bar may be observed, for the purpose of bringing the perforation in the music sheet in register with the tracker bar orifice.

9. A perforated music sheet and a tracker bar over which the sheet passes, said music sheet being provided with an observation space in advance of the note perforations through which predeterminedapoints upon the tracker bar may be observed to insure their registration with corresponding points on the music sheet.

10. A perforated music sheet to be passed over a tracker bar having orifices therein with which the note perforations of the music sheet are to be registered, provided with a space in advance of the note perforations and unalined with the note perforations of the sheet, through which predetermined portions of the face of the tracker bar may be observed, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

1n testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of December, 1913.

WILLIAM BAYLEY.

Witnesses:

M. RAY WEIKART, CHARLES B. ZIMMERMAN.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

